# NTSB CHI74AC008: Piper PA-28, N9825W, Eaton Rapids, MI, July 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 20, 1973
- Place: Eaton Rapids, MI · EATON RAPIDS, MI
- Location: 42.5097° N, 84.6519° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eaton Rapids, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5097&lon=-84.6519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 7, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3800  73/7/20    EATON RAPIDS,MICH   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 45, 32 TOTAL
        TIME - 1045                    N9825W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 29 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAYLING,MICH              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  7000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE ON UNICOM,IFR AT 3400FT.UNAUTHORIZED X-COUNTRY.NO INST TRNG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9825W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9825W-1974-02-12), registration cancelled 1974-02-12, S/N 28-23327, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730720040569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730720040569A), Jul 20, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Eaton Rapids, MI, Destroyed. Plt asked for assistance on UNICOM,IFR at 3400FT.unauthorized x-country. No inst trng.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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